Kayak And Snorkelling Trip To Capitan Island; Part Of Las Baulas National Park

Luis was very knowledgeable. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours in the water near Tamerindo.

We were torn on what to say here. Once on the island, there is lots to see and it was a really neat experience. It was cool to see creatures scurry from overturned rocks, and view the fish, sea urchins and crabs in the tidal pools. Wouldn’t recommend for little kids or weak swimmers. Know that getting to the island means paddling through the surf and waves which can roll you out of the boat. Additionally, there could be a cross wind taking you away from shore. The guide helps launch each boat and that means first ones out wait for the others. You are navigating the waves and power boats coming to shore to shuttle people to other boats. We didn’t have confidence that our guide would be able to rescue anyone from a life guard perspective. Snorkeling involved walking into the water on slippery big rocks to get deep enough to swim. Make sure you bring thick sole water shoes. Once deep enough guide will swap water shoes for flippers and snorkel gear. Guide stayed on shore while we snorkeled in a cove. We didn’t see colorful fish swimming in the rocks. Suggest bringing a mini bottle of (Dawn) dish soap to apply a drop to the mask glass for anti fogging, as well as clean snorkel mouthpiece. The island is largely the remains of volcanic lava, which means uneven, porous, and sharp rock. It will shred bare feet. Consider bringing a first aid kit for the dry bag—any slip or fall could mean an infected cut. We could tell guide was tired of making the trip 2x day for many years. We liked what we saw on and around island, but things could go wrong if you aren’t fit or have small kids.

Enjoyed the trip and Luis was not only a good guide he also was a naturalist, telling us and pointing out plants, etc. that we would not have picked up on. Additionally, he was thinking more about our experience as he suggested we push out a few days due to winds in the area. I thought this was great, he was thinking more about our experience than his revenue.

Really enjoyed the kayaking and snorkel tour with Luis. He was a great guide that entertained my family and our friends. We were the only ones on the island on a busy weekend day.

Luis was a fantastic guide. We thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon Kayak and snorkeling though the hike around the island learning about the history and wildlife (interjected with Luis’ humor) was the highlight for me. Definitely a unique experience and we had the island to ourselves. Highly recommend!

What a wonderful trip! Luis is extremely knowledgeable in local history and fauna, as experienced during our hike around the island. His commitment to ecology, mineralogy and safety are commendable. My family of five thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were fascinated by Luis’ insights, stories and jokes. Highly recommended!!!

Great experience, Luis was very nice and knowledgeable. Super committed to biological diversity and the history of the island. Would recommend.

We had a Wi detail afternoon with Luis. He was very organized and had everything ready for our group of 10. We met him on the beach and the kayak trip was super fun and about 25 minutes over to the Bristol island. Luis took us on a walking tour all over the island and educated us about the sea creatures, land and rocks. He is very thoughtful and patient. The snorkeling was a ton of fun and easy shallow entrance into water. After water and snacks we had an exhilarating kayak back to the main beach. A great time was had by all!

Louis was a wonderful guide, for several reasons: * He very clearly explained every step of using the kayaks, from how to get in and out to how to paddle through the surf, both going out and coming back in. 10/10 * He was so knowledgeable about all the wildlife found on the island--and he got excited when we found a few things he hadn't seen as often. * He took us all over the island so we could see all the different habitats. * He was very clear in his communication on where to meet and what time to meet to get the best experience with the tides (the island is best seen at the lowest part of the tide). We had the best experience! I would recommend wearing water shoes with very good grip. Louis will provide snorkeling gear if you don't have your own.

Great tour and experience! Lots of wildlife, and Louis was great! We saw crabs, plants/trees, bats, monkeys, and a crocodile on this trip!

Had a great time & our guide was very knowledgeable sharing very interesting facts and historical tidbits as we hiked around in the national forest

What a beautiful tour of the mangroves! Luis guided our family of four on a kayaking trip through the mangroves in Las Baulas National Park. We started our tour in a little cove off the Estero de Playa Grande, just up the road from Pangas Beach Club. Luis provided dry bags for our personal items, which we rolled up and strapped onto the sit-on-top kayaks. Then, after some instructions from Luis, we wadded into the water, boarded the kayaks, and started paddling into the estuary. We paddled about 30 minutes until we reached the dry land in the heart of the park. There Luis guided us on a tour of the wildlife and history of the area. His knowledge and love for the area really shows. Back at the kayaks, Luis gave us some cold drinks and snacks before we paddled back. Thanks to the timing, the tides helped us paddle back to the cove. Overall, it was a fun, educational, and peaceful outing.

We had a great time on this trip with Luis. He was very responsive - from emails with information when booking, to the whatsapp communication on the day off the activity. We were a tad bit late getting there, but Luis was very patient and met us at the predetermined spot. He had the kayaks all ready and even carried some cool water and snacks for us. Luis was filled with information about the mangroves, the insects, the birds, the plants and the history of the place (crabs, termite nests, bats among others) - pointing out things as we went along. Our teenage kids found it engaging too.

Luis took fantastic care of us and was particularly accommodating to our 9 and 7 year old. He was especially engrossing pointing out all the wildlife and geology of Capitan Island.

We had a wonderful kayak adventure to Capital Island where our guide pointed out Starfish, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers along with identification of the birds. We saw crabs scurrying on the rocks and we watched waves spray through a blowhole. He contacted us to alter the time to align best with tide and maximize what we could see. We captured fish from snorkeling on our go pro. Overall, a great outing!

Manroe Island Mauroe island is part of Astamudi Lake and close to Kollam town. We travelled from Trivandrum to Munroe Island to take a Manual row boat. The Island is famous for backwaters and mangrove forests. The charges are 1000 per hour for upto 6 people. We visited in the month of March so it was hot and very humid. Hiring a Manual row boat was better then a motorized boat. The trip was very slow and takes you thru the winding back waters and under the bridges. The location and trip is very scenic and the mangrove forests are amazing. There is a confluence of River in the sea which is beautiful. If you wish to stay, there are plenty of affordable home stays. Do not not forget to enjoy the local sea food and coconut toddy. It is an experience. You can also hire a house boat and stay overnight, it costs Rs.8000 to 15000 on the number of people and type of boat. It is slow and gets little boring, unless you have a very good group or company. Arch of Mangrove plants, Fish tanks and Sand mounds in the middle of the lake are interesting. Carry water, caps and Umbrella. Sunscreen cream is also a must.

After a crash course in open water kayaking, we toured Isla Capitan. We enjoyed the hike and the different marine life on and around the island. Snorkeling in the protected waters was probably our favorite experience. The tour was a bit disorganized at first, but it didn't detract from the experience.

Had a great time, was a great little activity that had kayaking, snorkeling and a bit of hiking. Got to see lots of fish and little sea creatures on the island. Wear/bring water shoes and sneakers.

After I met with Ernesto who said we were going to kayak through the big waves at Tamarrindo, I chose not to go. I assumed the kayaking would be in a quieter stretch of ocean. I have a bad shoulder and although I have kayaked I did not want to do such a tough battle. The wind had also picked up in the afternoon so it would not have been the best for snorkeling. If you can refund my money that would be helpful.

We had a great time on this trip to Capitan Island! It was definitely windy paddling to the island, but we all had a fair bit of kayak experience and were fine. It was really neat to explore the island and see all the sea creatures. Our guide knew just where to look for everything. The snorkeling was cool - there were lots of little fish (including bright blue ones) and a few bigger fish as well. The snack was much appreciated!

Took is into the national park and showed us more than we expected! Was very informative and professional. I could definitely tell that Luis cares about what he is doing and showing it in a responsible way.

Luis was dedicated, conscientious, and careful that the group didn't intrude on sacred space. Be prepared to wait for turtles to come into shore--they're not on a tour schedule. Be prepared to walk LOTS to where the turtles are. Guides do their best to locate nesting turtles. It's all worth it to share the miracle of nesting turtles.

Our guide was crabby. My partner had no kayak experience, and the guide was impatient. Our tour was supposed to be 3 hours, but it only lasted 2 hours.

Tom was the BEST tour guide for our group of 18!!! He was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the estuary and the history of the land. He was knowledgeable about the animals and trees and plants found naturally and imported. The hike was more of a nature walk, so it was easy for everyone in our group to do. It was one of the best tours we did and everyone in our group adored Tom!!! Thank you!

Great trip, Luis was very knowledgable about the island and it's inhabitants. He provided everything needed for the kayaking trip and snorkeling. My girls learned a lot and loved exploring the island!

About 7 years ago my wife and I met Tom on the beach and instantly decided to take his tour. He was energetic, kind, and knowledgeable. He was an interesting person and I felt like I knew him from a past life or something. Definitely recommend his tour! All he asked in return for his service was to leave a review, and I promised I would. It’s been on my to-do list for 7 years now and it feels really good to finally do it. Thanks Tom!

Fun and easy, private kayaking tour with snorkeling. I surprised my husband on his birthday with this tour. It ended up that it was just us two and the guide on this particular morning. I had been researching snorkeling trips on the area and most reviews said snorkelers were kind of an after thought to drinking or scuba diving trips. We were in it solely for the nature aspect . We happened to take part in Sol Eco Tours turtle nesting tour a few nights prior (also highly recommended) and our guide Luis mention that they also provided this kayak tour to Capitan Island specifically focusing on the nature and history of the island. The price was right so I signed up. We met at a public beach area in Tamarindo @ 8am, Luis met us there with a double kayak and his own along with life jackets, paddles and snorkel gear. He provided clear safety instructions for launch and arrival on the island. He also provided walking sticks for our trek around the island. The easy paddle was about 20 minutes out to the island. Luis taught us about the origins and history of the island. We saw a shell grave yard and got a demonstration of the strength of this large shells. We got to see a large number of hermit crabs fighting over their breakfast. We walked the island and saw tide pools containing amazing creatures, brightly colored fish, tons of starfish, sea slugs and chitons (imposters of trilobites). We also encountered sea birds and larger sneaky crabs. Agave plants and other flora were observed. After exploring the island we were provided with our snorkel gear and instructed where to stay around. Brightly colored and striped fish swam all around. We learned that turning over loose rock encouraged them to come in closer looking for food. It was beautiful. After snorkeling snacks were provided before paddling back to shore. The trip was easy, safe and fun. Luis was easy to understand and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend any of their tours. **Wear sturdy sandals or sneakers as the island can be pretty slippery in parts and my Teva’s weren’t feeling it for some reason. I also wasn’t a huge fan of flippers and ditched them part way through. I snarfed up my toes a couple times hitting rocks as I swam and the waves moved me around. I would purchase closed toed Keen sandals if I had to do it again just for the toe protection during snorkeling and white water rafting we had also done.

This was a great tour! We were fortunate to see baby turtles making it to the ocean and 2 moms making their way to the beach. It was also great to be on the beach in time to see a gorgeous sunset. Make sure you wear good shoes, dark clothes and bring your bug spray. Would do this tour with Tom again!

We had a wonderful time with Tom going to Capitan. The paddling was quite the adventure and the island is beautiful. We snorkeled and took a lovely walk and saw animal life and critters and really enjoyed ourselves. Tom was a pleasure. Thank you for starting our vacation in such a lovely way . Now, when we look out on the island from the beach, we know we’ve been there!

It was a great time, saw great creatures! Had to paddle hard against the wind but we conquered it! Would go on another trip again!

The guide was very informative and showed us a lot of wildlife on the island. It was astounding to see how much life existed on what looked like just a tiny bit of rock. We also didn't feel rushed at all when snorkeling- he just allowed us what time we wanted to be in the water.

Wind is a factor. expensive compared to other events. unsophisticated sole owner w poor quality equipment.

Capitan Island is very beautiful and the diversity of sealife in the tidal pools is really incredible. Las Baulas National Park is amazing and very much something to experience. Kayaking to the island was interesting and our guide provided lots of instruction about what to do.

Do NOT book this. We were confirmed to meet at El Chiringuito for the morning trip, but Luis never showed up. When I called him later he apologized and rebooked us for the next afternoon, but then he messaged back that he had been wrong about when low tide is and needed to book for the following morning. We told him we just wanted to cancel, and he said he would process the refund that night. He did not. Once home, I contacted him again and he said he would get it done "this week" and thanked me for my patience. After 3 more days he still hadn't paid. I had to settle it by filing a dispute through my credit card company.

Luis asked us to arrive early at 8.00 AMand we thought it was to start earlier than planned.. We found out he wanted us to set up the kayaks for all the other participants. In addition he wasn't there on time himself and arrived late. He proposed that we could go without lifevest since he had forgot them. During prepping of the kayaks Luis screamed at us when we didn't do exactly like he wanted it. The kayaking was dangerous since he sent out a family of 5 by themselves (3 kids) and was far away from the group himself. We kept together with the group and made sure everyone got back to the beach (the family had to take a break at some boats). On the way back Luis guided us (from far) back to the beach close to some rocks. When we got my kayak got onto the beach Luis was not there because he fell in the water himself and his kayak was far down the beach. The snorkling was nice, however, he only brought fins for 6 out of 8. Luis is very chauvinistic and rude towards kids and women. I have no idea how anyone could have had a níce trip with him.

Most of our party of 10 found the guide not very friendly. The equipment has definitely seen better days, the kayak my daughter and her boyfriend was in started to sink less than half way to the island. The snorkeling was not great, if you expect to float in the water and look at fish, this is not for you. You pretty much need to fight the waves all the time. The one highlight was the island hike was cool.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling good because our guide screamed at us before and during the kayaking. Even at children… on the Island, it was ok but the kayak no. If our guide was more polite and would smile more, it could have been fun.

Captain Tom approached my wife and I on the beach and engaged us in conversation before offering us his card and explaining the different tours he provides. We decided to select the kayak and snorkeling trip. The highlight of our tour was seeing the wildlife and the sights on the island. Tom also went out of his way to deliver a chain that I had accidentally left in a dry bag. I would recommend any of Captain Tom’s tours to anyone looking for some adventure/sightseeing in that part of Costa Rica.

Tom was an excellent guide. I can’t recommend him enough! He was flexible with booking & a very helpful teacher. Incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife of the island

Luis was a great tour guide and was able to hammer out a time that worked with my schedule. We got the kayaks from his truck and were on our way pretty quickly from the meeting point. Once on the island, Luis walked around and explained the natural habitat and history of the volcano, and we saw a ton of wild life! After that, it was a snorkel session before heading back to shore. Would recommend for sure!

Really fun and interesting experience. Louis is a great tour and a very friendly person. The whole experience was great and it was really exciting to walk around the island, which has a unique look.

Tom was an awesome guide! He was so knowledgeable and excited about all the life on Capitan Island and it was infectious! We had such an amazing time. Not to mention he was hysterical! 10/10 would recommend.

Luis was great and very knowledgeable about the island. We learned so much about the aquatic life and history and would definitely recommend this tour to visitors

Awesome trip!! Luis was amazing and the kayaking was a ton of fun, even in the strong winds we managed to make it. Then when on the island he showed us around the whole place and all the weird sea creepy crawlies! Highly recommend

Luis’ instructions for donning our gear were abrupt and impatient. But thorough. We followed him to island. He then took us on a well docented tour of the island. He knew lots and shared it - great experience. He had no water but did bring banana and cookies.

We had such an amazing time! Tom knows the island like the back of his hand, and came prepared with all of the equipment we needed. Highly recommend, you'll learn so much and have a great time.

My husband and I had a great adventure with Tom. The highlight was definitely being on the island and being amazed by all the creatures under rocks and in tide pools. We learned a lot!!! The snorkeling was a bit murky but okay and the kayaking was just transportation across as it was too windy to paddle around. Highly recommend - Tom is an intelligent, funny guy!

Luis is the bomb! He was very patient with our group and pointed out so much wildlife to us once we reached the island. It was a wonderful learning experience and we took home with us memories that will last a lifetime.

I’m hesitant to post too many photos because everyone should be surprised when they start exploring the island! Tom was an amazing guide and met us right on the beach for a quick ocean kayak lesson before heading out. The wind wasn’t too bad the afternoon of our trip so the paddle out from the beach to capitan wasn’t difficult. Once on the island I was amazed! So many creatures and natural formations. Tom was so wonderful at telling the story of the island and sporting all the hidden treasures. It’s really worth being surprised by everything. Following the hike, we had the opportunity to do some snorkeling and there was bountiful fish amongst the lava rock formations. Kayaking back was really fun especially since we got to ride a wave into shore (make sure you put your stuff in the supplies dry pack!). This is a must do afternoon excursion in tamarindo!